Littlehampton lifeboats in three rescue missions

Both RNLI lifeboats, the Atlantic 75 Blue Peter 1 and D Class Ray of Hope, were launched in the course of almost six hours, from 3.51pm, when they joined the Selsey lifeboats and a Coastguard helicopter to search for a swimmer reported missing by his wife. He was found, safe and well, some distance from where he entered the sea near Selsey lifeboat station.

At 6.08pm, Coastguards received a report of a man in a kayak, who appeared to be in difficulty and waving for help, 150m off Worthing beach. Blue Peter 1 launched at 6.17pm and headed out in a rough sea, but was stood down four minutes into the journey, the crew receiving a message that the canoeist was safely ashore.

Three hours later the Coastguard received a report of a kayak with a man clinging to it near the river bank in Arundel. Blue Peter 1 launched at 9.16pm and the Coastguard helicopter was scrambled.

Information was received that the casualty had drifted to a more northerly position, into shallower water. At 9.35pm Ray of Hope set off to join the search but within two minutes the canoeist was found, safe on the bank, and both lifeboats returned to base at Littlehampton.